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Trouble starting |
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Bobz0r 
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Joined: 13 March 2009 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 83 |
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 Topic: Trouble startingPosted: 17 May 2009 at 6:39pm |
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I'm having lots of trouble starting my 85 GT. When I try to start, I get a few slow cranks and that's it. My battery cables are heating up and my battery won't hold a charge when the car is off. My multi-meter says my battery drain with the car off is just a few milliamps. Using a booster pack to try and start my car results in VERY hot cables, and after a few tries, if it doesn't start my booster pack is half dead.
My battery is good, my alternator is charging and I've replaced the starter. Does anyone have any info that may help? |
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Capt Fiero
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Founding Member Joined: 12 February 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 4039 |
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Posted: 17 May 2009 at 8:00pm |
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Did you ever check the ignition timing? Are you using the black or red starter, I might be inclined to try the red starter, OR just bite the bullet and get a new one. |
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Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6 Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd. |
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Bobz0r
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Joined: 13 March 2009 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 83 |
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Posted: 17 May 2009 at 8:04pm |
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How would I check the ignition timing? I am using the black one. I am also in Kelowna now and wouldn't be able to change to the other starter you gave me until I get home tomorrow, if I get home. But this starter is doing the exact same thing as the last one. It's both battery cables getting hot too, and not just the one. Does that have any significance?
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Capt Fiero
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Posted: 17 May 2009 at 8:57pm |
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Well the only thing that will cause hot cables is A. Really corroded connections at the Battery and or starter and or ground to the engine block. B. Bad or worn out starter.
I can't remember but we did not pull the cables off when you were here did we? I would remove both cables and clean the hell out of them, or run to a local parts store and buy 2 replacement ends, then cut off the OEM ends and put the new replacements on. Replacement ends are about $4 each. |
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Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6 Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd. |
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Dr.Fiero
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Joined: 12 February 2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 1726 |
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Posted: 17 May 2009 at 9:35pm |
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I'm 100% voting for 'change the cables'.
You can have corrosion inside the rubber molded boot and never be able to see it. Also, because of where the ground cable bolts on (front side of the head) it gets pissed on all the time when it rains. Guess what... more corrosion! Had to do a field call once on a no-start. Cracked off the nut, wiggled the wire, cranked it back down - Vroooom. Make sure to put penatrox or noalox (latter can be got at home depot) all over the terminal ends before you bolt them down, and clean the crap out of whatever you're bolting to with some coarse grit paper. |
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Bobz0r
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Posted: 17 May 2009 at 11:22pm |
I was reading up on the internet and that seems to be the solution to similar problems. Of course it just has to be the last thing I change  |
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Bobz0r
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Posted: 21 May 2009 at 8:44pm |
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Well, I went and changed the cables today and guess what? NOTHING. Car starts while it's cold, but as soon as it heats up a bit, nothing, just continuous slow cranking and heating cables.
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Bobz0r
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Posted: 08 September 2009 at 4:42pm |
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Problem is back AGAIN. Last time I changed the starter and it worked great. Since then I've also got a new Optima Red Top battery as well. Today I tried starting it after stopping off at the grocery store for a quick pickup, came out and nothing. Just a bunch of really fast clicking. Sounds like the starter or solenoid is giving me trouble again. ARGH! It only needs to last me another 2 months until I swap the motor! lol. |
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Dawg
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Joined: 15 August 2009 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 988 |
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Posted: 09 September 2009 at 6:24pm |
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If your cables were indeed that bad there is a possibility that you damaged the starter.
All that heating in your cables is sinking voltage away from the starter which makes it even harder for it to do the job. It will then demand even more current because the rpm's are lower. If you sat there cranking and cranking stubbornly, you just might have a buggered starter now. Cheers, Damien |
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You dream it up....I'll make it
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Romeo
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Joined: 16 November 2008 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 3033 |
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Posted: 16 September 2009 at 7:02pm |
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I'm also starting to have trouble starting. The car makes a rapid clicking (As if a circuit breaker is going nuts) and really struggles to kick over... Think it's the wires starting to lose their insulation?
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Never shift into reverse without a back-up plan.
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Capt Fiero
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Posted: 16 September 2009 at 7:24pm |
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Romeo, yours, with the way we hatched your battery wire. If you have not replaced the battery yet, that will totally explain your issue. That was suppose to be a temp solution to keep you on the road just long enough to get a new battery.
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Capt Fiero
88 Fiero GT 5spd V6 Eight Fifty Seven GT V8 5spd. |
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Patrick
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Joined: 19 April 2008 Location: Vancouver Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Posted: 16 September 2009 at 7:28pm |
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I think you have a broken starter bolt.
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Romeo
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Posted: 16 September 2009 at 7:33pm |
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Well, battery isn't so weak it should be straining this badly, but I'll look into it.
Yes Patty, must be the bloody bolt. |
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Never shift into reverse without a back-up plan.
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Patrick
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Posted: 16 September 2009 at 8:00pm |
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That would be your starter solenoid clicking. Put a voltmeter on your battery while the engine is off and while the car is running (if you can get it started). What are the readings?
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Romeo
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Posted: 17 September 2009 at 6:01pm |
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No idea yet, haven't had a chance to find my dad's voltmeter.
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Never shift into reverse without a back-up plan.
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Bobz0r
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Joined: 13 March 2009 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 83 |
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Posted: 17 September 2009 at 9:04pm |
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This is what mine is doing now, except I've noticed it's only in the mornings, or when it's getting chilly. I think maybe the battery is on the way out? It's a 4 or 5 year old Optima Red Top in there now. |
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Romeo
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Joined: 16 November 2008 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 3033 |
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Posted: 17 September 2009 at 10:42pm |
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Oh, damn. That battery shouldn't be dead already... Oh well. Time to relocate!
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Never shift into reverse without a back-up plan.
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Capt Fiero
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Posted: 18 September 2009 at 8:15am |
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The Optima's have a 10 year warranty, so if you can find your recpit, take it back and get a new one, assuming you bought it new.
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Dr.Fiero
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Posted: 18 September 2009 at 8:44am |
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'Tis the season to have hard starting.
Cold weather and high humidity both are conducive to making things go wrong. Corrosion will form easily on all sorts of things in these conditions. Including but far from limited to ground straps and battery terminals. As for the terminals, I'm not talking only about the cable to battery mating surfaces. It's the hidden area that'll bite you. You need to pull the terminal assy off the battery, then carefully stick a small screwdriver between the rubber boot and the 'bolt' on an angle. Now pull it around in a circle, popping the 'bolt' out. If the 'bolt' is even slightly damaged from improper tool usage over the last ~25 years, just replace it. You can get new ones at Lordco in the Pico section for a couple bucks each. They're honestly not even worth cleaning up the old ones. Check the contact face of the terminal. Good chance it'll be covered in a film of crud. It might even LOOK like metal! So get in there and clean it up really well until it's REAL metal. Coat all surfaces in Noalox (etc) and reassemble. Next remove all your ground straps, clean clean clean them until they shine (sand paper, wire wheels, brushes, etc) then coat them too, and reassemble. You'll find your distributor caps will get layers of corrosion on the terminals more at this time of year too. Pull the terminals off and make sure they're clean. Here is another good place to put a thin layer of your new friend - on the terminals. |
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Patrick
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Joined: 19 April 2008 Location: Vancouver Status: Offline Points: 6 |
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Posted: 18 September 2009 at 9:34am |
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I'm familiar with dielectric grease, but not with products such as Noalox. So I did a google search and found this interesting article. Makes for good reading (for anyone who deals with electrical connections). Actually, there's a lot of good info at the site the above article came from. Have a look at the Product Reviews page.
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Dr.Fiero wrote: